Best College Towns Near the Outer Banks
The Outer Banks in the state of North Carolina boasts a calming environment great for studying, focusing, and enjoying the outdoors. Many folks come here to recharge from the surrounding big city bustle. However, looking for the best Outer Banks college is limited in its selection to just a few destinations. These are the best college towns for the ultimate college experience, along with the other alternatives from destinations nearby. While the Outer Banks academic institutions are few and far between, they are no less established and recommended than some of the larger universities! Aside from the colleges in North Carolina, some of the best nearby colleges for residents of the area include small college towns in Virginia, such as ECPI University, located two hours away in Virginia Beach.
Manteo
Manteo is a town in Dare County, North Carolina, located on Roanoke Island; The island town is as charming as it is historic and culturally rich. Manteo is acclaimed to be one of the first English settlement locations, long before Jamestown, Virginia, and the town is known as the home of the disappearing colony. The first settlers of Roanoke Island disappear to an unknown mysterious cause till this day. Manteo has celebrated this occasion yearly with a game called The Lost Colony.
The college’s campus in Manteo is only one of the College of The Albemarle’s locations, as other branches of the same institution can be found in Elizabeth City and Edenton, North Carolina, two other small college towns worth considering. Academic majors and disciplines include Healthcare, Business, Science, and Computers at both the undergrad and graduate level. Some popular attractions are the Albemarle Museum, Elizabethan Gardens, and a unique lighthouse called the Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse. There are also many art galleries and historic homes to enjoy while walking its streets on a study break!
Elizabeth City
Elizabeth City is near the Outer Banks of Pasquotank County, North Carolina, United States, the most popular college town among locals of the Outer Banks because of its diverse range of study options. Mid-Atlantic Christian University, Elizabeth City State University, and the College of Albemarle are all excellent study destinations for students in the Outer Banks. Its waterfront aesthetics make the town the perfect study location with a downtown waterfront market and its beautiful Charles Creek Park. Known as the harbor of hospitality, Elizabeth City is also home to the Museum of the Albemarle, The Center at Arts of the Albemarle, and one of the largest U.S. Coast Guard air stations in the United States. The calm atmosphere of Elizabeth City make it a very approachable and easy-going town, perfect for those nervous about transitions!
Virginia Beach
While ECPI University is not located within the Outer Banks region, it is one of the closest best alternatives for those looking to expand their options. ECPI, or the East Coast Polytechnic Institute University, is the perfect option for studying technology, as it is a renown and extremely reputable institution and a popular choice for Virginia and North Carolina locals. ECPI has numerous locations across Virginia, including Newport News, Richmond, and Virginia Beach. Depending on what students are looking to study, ECPI also has locations in South and North Carolina, such as the campus in Greensboro, Charlotte, and a few more. The city itself boasts a gorgeous beach, aptly named Virginia Beach, whose white sands and beautiful waters make for incredible days catching rays between study sessions!
Greenville
Greenville is one of the further college town options, offering quality and reputable educational institutions such as East Carolina University and community colleges. Famous graduate and post-graduate educational institutions include Lenoir College, ECU and its many East Carolina campuses, and more private options for niche studies. The town and its offerings are tailored to the student community offering many activities and social spaces for student gatherings and meetups. Live music events, malls, pubs, and top-performing college sports teams are all reasons to consider Greenville as a go-to town for a memorable college experience. Greenville is the perfect balance of moderate inclusive atmosphere, featuring live music, festival events, small community support initiatives, and lots of educational, historic sites.
Norfolk
Greenville is not the only college-intensive city in the area; Norfolk is home to over six world-class educational institutions. Some of the most notable universities in Norfolk include Old Dominion University, Norfolk State University, and the Culinary Institute of Virginia. Norfolk makes a perfect college town, with students being one of the city’s leading economic sources, offering a more abundant entertainment experience with the added benefit of meeting like-minded individuals and friends! The symphony orchestra, Norfolk Botanical Gardens, and the Chrysler Museum of Art are all cool places to check out on days off. Additionally, live events, local music, and creative small businesses give the city its unique character, making it one of the best options in the Outer Banks for an exceptional college experience. Greenville has it all!
Conclusion
The Outer Banks region is a truly great area for prospective students to explore as a potential academic option. From the quaint and beautiful setting of Manteo and its institutions to the busier Virginia Beach area, these regions make great college towns. Each with its own respective schools and amenities. No matter the choice, students will not be disappointed in these towns!
